James Beard-nominated chefs highlight Greenville euphoria2024 lineup

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Plans for euphoria2024 presented by Lexus include 65 events in four days, ranging from classrooms, lunch-and-learns, and wine seminars to signature events, musical performances, and guest chef dinners with appearances from Emeril Lagasse, Curtis Duffy, and several other highly-acclaimed chefs and beverage professionals.

Greenville’s award-winning food, wine and music festival takes place Sept. 19-22.

Euphoria2024 will feature several unique collaborations between local and visiting chefs, with more guest chef dinners and more diversity in cuisine than ever before, according to a news release. James Beard nominee Dayna Lee will host a Filipino/Mexican fusion dinner at Comal 864, in collaboration with JBF Emerging Chef finalist Nikko Cagalanan of Kultura in Charleston. Chef Michael Kramer will host an Italian-inspired wine dinner at Jianna, with longtime friend Jacques Larson of The Obstinate Daughter, while Chef Addison Stone from The City Club teams up with Edgar Santiago of Hall’s Chophouse for an Asian-infused dinner with a steakhouse twist, and Chef Shawn Kelly hosts a NOLA-themed dinner at Fork & Plough with Sue Zemanick of Zasu of New Orleans. Classrooms will cover everything from beer and wine tasting to oyster shucking, cocktail making and baguette baking; explore the integral role beer plays in German gastronomy; and teach guests about dim sum and the dynamics of heritage-driven New Chinese American cuisine.

Brunch Fiesta, where local chefs whip up Spanish-inspired brunch dishes paired with tequila cocktails, will expand to two days in 2024, based on demand. Euphoria’s plant-based dinner is also making a comeback, courtesy of Nick Barr from Chai Pani and Jennifer Barone of The 07. Another fan favorite, Old Stories & A New Menu, returns to the schedule after a brief hiatus, featuring a walking tour of downtown Greenville with historian John Nolan, to hear old stories about the city before heading to a multi-course lunch at Passerelle Bistro.

Other interactive experiences include Pedal to Picnic, a bike ride along the Swamp Rabbit Trail followed by lunch at Topsoil Kitchen & Market, and Grow and Graze, a morning of exploration and culinary inspiration, starting with a guided stroll through the downtown Greenville farmer’s market led by local chefs and farmers, and ending with a family-style lunch at Camilla Kitchen.

Six chefs from starred restaurants will collaborate for four different Michelin dinners. Euphoria regular, Ryan Ratino, of one-star Bresca and two-star Jônt in DC, will collaborate with world-renowned Chef Emeril Lagasse of Emeril’s in New Orleans and Food Network fame, and his son, EJ Lagasse, for The Michelin Experience at Avenue. Chef Curtis Duffy of two-star Ever in Chicago returns to euphoria for Seeing Stars: A Michelin-starred Dinner at Soby’s, alongside fellow Chicagoan Chef James Bingham of Moody Tongue, the world’s first two-star brewery, and Chef Johnny Spero of one-star Reverie in DC. Former co-workers will reunite when Christian Hunter of one-star Atelier in Chicago joins Nico Abello of Table 301 at CAMP for By the Starlight: A Michelin-starred Dinner. Hunter was a finalist for James Beard Best Chef: Northeast and received the Michelin Guide’s Young Chef Award. Chef Joe Cash will host Jonathan Black, from one-star Chez Noir in Carmel, Calif., at Scoundrel for In the Stars: A Michelin-starred Dinner. The two worked together at three-starred Per Se in New York. 

Euphoria’s signature events are all back by popular demand, with Aged to Perfection moving to a new venue, Judson Mill, featuring global flavors, eclectic bites, and music from ‘80s-inspired Neon Arcadia. Party in the Park returns to Fluor Field on Friday with live music from Steel Toe Stiletto, followed by Feast by the Field, euphoria’s signature tasting event, on Saturday and Sunday, with special programming to highlight and celebrate 10 years of South Carolina’s Chef Ambassador program.

The 2024 SC Chef Ambassadors will also team up for a meal, featuring South Carolina-grown products paired with specialty crafted cocktails, beer and wine at Sunday Supper. The laid-back Southern meal, which serves as euphoria’s grand finale, will return to The Barn at Sitton Hill Farm after a change in venue last year.

Euphoria’s mission is to showcase and support Greenville’s culinary and music arts scene while making a strong, positive impact on the community and raising money for other nonprofit organizations. In 2024, euphoria will fund projects for eight nonprofit organizations, totaling more than $100,000 that will all stay local, the largest single-year donation in the festival’s history. 

“We’re supporting more organizations in one year than we ever have before, and pouring more money back into our community,” Morgan Allen, executive director of euphoria, said in the release. “Community engagement is our top priority, which includes shining a spotlight on Greenville, supporting the hospitality industry,  giving back, and making a strong economic impact. We are proud to deliver on that in a big way this year.”

Euphoria2024 grant recipients are Walt’s Waltz, Greenville Symphony Association, A Child’s Haven, Mill Village Farms, Southern Smoke Foundation, Upstate Warrior Solution, Feed & Seed, and Giving Kitchen. Click here for more information about the nonprofits and their projects.

The complete schedule is available online, and tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on April 18.